Is Wisconsin seeing a rise of 'warrior cops'?

Scenes like this one, from a December police standoff in Fond du Lac, seem to be becoming more common.

A Neillsville police officer is called to a domestic disturbance after 2 a.m. A 23-year-old man in Neilsville ends up dead after he refused to drop a knife he was holding.

In Pittsville, a sheriff's deputy follows a 48-year-old woman to her home after seeing her not wearing a seatbelt. The argument that ensues ends with one of her dogs shot dead by the deputy.

These two recent cases involving the actions of local police have given me reason to pause and reflect. The first, the shooting death of Ricky Taylor in Clark County, happened in December. The second, the arrest of Cora M. Fuller in Wood County, happened in September.

I do not have firsthand knowledge of either case, nor do I have any specific reason to believe police acted in a way that was unlawful. But I am troubled by the fact that both incidents ended in deaths, and I believe it is necessary for the public to give scrutiny to any time law enforcement officers use deadly force.

Before I proceed, let me say clearly: I understand law enforcement is not easy and that police and other emergency personal are often put in difficult positions. I also believe both incidents are being investigated and I hope those investigations will lead to full and public information and appropriate internal decisions.

What I am concerned with related to this though, is that we, as citizens, make sure that such violence is not routine and that it is always questioned.

The 'warrior cop'

Along these lines, I'd recommend that interested parties read Radley Balko's "Rise of the Warrior Cop." Balko, a libertarian and a senior writer for the Huffington Post, makes a compelling case that we should all be somewhat skeptical of the direction law enforcement in some cases appears to be headed.

"Since the 1960s," Balko writes, "in response to a range of perceived threats, law-enforcement agencies across the U.S., at every level of government, have been blurring the line between police officer and soldier. Driven by martial rhetoric and the availability of military-style equipment - from bayonets and M-16 rifles to armored personnel carriers - American police forces have often adopted a mind-set previously reserved for the battlefield.

"The war on drugs and, more recently, post-9/11 antiterrorism efforts have created a new figure on the U.S. scene: the warrior cop - armed to the teeth, ready to deal harshly with targeted wrongdoers, and a growing threat to familiar American liberties."

I want to be very clear: I am not accusing the police in these cases of wrongdoing or suggesting that Balko's reporting from elsewhere applies directly to central Wisconsin. Rather, I am suggesting that we all should be aware of these trends - and be wary of them.

Dissent, questions have value

Throughout history there have been examples of authority run amuck, often times with either the acceptance or even tacit approval of the surrounding populace (Bull Connor and the Birmingham police in the early 1960s is one somewhat recent example).

Mark Twain wrote, "Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect." I believe there is some wisdom in that admonition.

Usually, not always, the majority opinion resides with those in authority. I respect authority and believe that, along with limited cost-effective government, it is vital to a well-functioning society. But questioning the actions of those in power - peaceful, respectful dissent - is noble and necessary.

Twain's quote suggests it may be time to pause and reflect. Ben Franklin went further when addressing this specific topic when he stated, "Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety."

I sincerely hope we as citizens don't just think only of far-off places and despotic regimes when it comes to liberty and related concerns. Vigilance and high standards close to home is also always warranted.

We entrust law enforcement with a huge amount of responsibility, up to and including the power to take a life. I believe it is up to us as members of the public to make sure our law enforcement officials are always meeting the highest standards of conduct when it comes to these matters.

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A Neillsville police officer is called to a domestic disturbance after 2 a.m. A 23-year-old man in Neilsville ends up dead after he refused to drop a knife he was holding.

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